The Vanilla Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is a celebration in a pan: soft, buttery crumb mingling perfectly with the silky tang of cream cheese, all wrapped up in a generous layer of sweet, dreamy frosting. Whether you’re marking a birthday, making a weeknight brighter, or simply craving that nostalgic flavor of classic vanilla cake, this beloved bake delivers every time. The recipe is simple yet impressive, ideal for beginners but always a crowd-pleaser among seasoned bakers. There’s something downright magical about the way the vanilla sings against the creamy frosting, making every bite just as delightful as the last.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Ingredients You’ll Need
With just a handful of trusty ingredients, you’ll create the irresistible layers of your Vanilla Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. Each element plays a key role, from building a soft, fluffy crumb to achieving that billowy, luscious frosting on top. Here are the essentials and why you can’t skip them:
- All-purpose flour: Provides the perfect structure for a tender-yet-sturdy cake that slices beautifully.
- Baking powder: Lifts the cake, ensuring a light, airy texture without heaviness.
- Salt: Balances sweetness and amplifies the cake’s nuanced vanilla flavor.
- Unsalted butter, softened: Adds rich flavor and gives the cake a melt-in-your-mouth quality.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the batter and helps create a moist, golden crust.
- Large eggs, room temperature: Bind everything together, add richness, and help the cake rise.
- Pure vanilla extract: The heart of the cake, infusing every crumb with warm, fragrant vanilla.
- Whole milk, room temperature: Ensures a soft crumb and prevents the cake from drying out.
- Cream cheese, softened: The star of the frosting, bringing that signature tangy-smooth flavor.
- Unsalted butter, softened (for frosting): Makes the frosting spreadable and fudgy.
- Powdered sugar: Sweetens the frosting and creates that fluffy, cloud-like texture.
- Pure vanilla extract (for frosting): Doubles down on vanilla notes, tying cake and frosting together.
- Pinch of salt (for frosting): Just enough to balance the sweetness and deepen flavors.
How to Make Vanilla Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Step 1: Prepare the Pan and Preheat
Begin by setting your oven to 350°F (175°C) so it’s hot and ready when the batter is done. Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan well and dust it lightly with flour; this simple step promises an easy release and a perfectly golden crust every time.
Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. This ensures the rising agents are evenly distributed so your Vanilla Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting bakes up tall and even. A quick whisk breaks up clumps and saves you from over-mixing later!
Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugar
Grab a large mixing bowl and cream the softened butter with the granulated sugar. Beat until it’s super light and fluffy — you want to see it turn pale and almost double in volume. This step gives your cake its delicate crumb and irresistible melt-away texture.
Step 4: Add Eggs and Vanilla
Mix in the eggs one at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Follow with the vanilla extract. This bit-by-bit approach keeps the batter smooth and ensures even baking with pockets of vanilla flavor in every bite.
Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry, Add Milk
Alternately add the whisked dry ingredients and the room temperature milk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with the flour. This method keeps the batter lovely and tender. Mix just until combined to avoid overworking the flour — a few streaks are just fine at this stage.
Step 6: Bake
Pour the batter into your prepped pan, spreading it gently into the corners. Bake for 30–35 minutes, until a toothpick poked into the center comes out clean. The aroma of buttery vanilla filling your kitchen is an excellent clue it’s almost ready. Let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
Step 7: Make the Cream Cheese Frosting
While the cake cools, beat the softened cream cheese and unsalted butter together until smooth and creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing until the frosting is fluffy and light. Blend in vanilla and a pinch of salt for that signature tang and richness.
Step 8: Frost and Enjoy
Once the cake is cool, swoop the frosting over the top, spreading it edge to edge. Now comes the best part: slicing into your Vanilla Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and diving in! Finish with colorful sprinkles if you’re in a celebratory mood.
How to Serve Vanilla Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Garnishes
This sheet cake loves a playful finishing touch! Try a scattering of rainbow sprinkles for birthdays, a dusting of edible glitter for a touch of sparkle, or a handful of fresh berries for a pop of color and bright flavor against the creamy frosting. Crushed nuts or a drizzle of caramel also work wonders.
Side Dishes
Pairing is simple: a scoop of vanilla ice cream echoes the cake’s flavor while adding cool contrast, or try fresh fruit like sliced strawberries and blueberries to balance the richness. For coffee lovers, a strong espresso or cup of tea is the cozy, grown-up match this cake deserves.
Creative Ways to Present
Cut your Vanilla Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting into fun shapes using cookie cutters for parties, or layer cubes of cake in mini parfait glasses with extra frosting and fruit for an eye-catching dessert. Individual squares on a platter, each crowned with a single berry or dusting of powdered sugar, look irresistibly inviting for gatherings.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
To keep your Vanilla Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting fresh, cover it well and refrigerate. The cream cheese frosting stays best when chilled, and the cake remains moist and tender for up to five days. Just let slices stand at room temperature for a bit before enjoying, so the flavors can really shine.
Freezing
You can freeze this cake (frosted or unfrosted) for longer storage. Simply cut into squares and wrap each in plastic, then stash in an airtight container. Thaw overnight in the fridge or at room temperature before serving — the frosting will still taste lush and creamy!
Reheating
If you prefer that just-baked warmth, microwave a slice for 10–15 seconds. The cake will become soft and fragrant, and the cream cheese frosting will become extra luscious. Just don’t overdo it, as the frosting can melt if left too long.
FAQs
Can I make this Vanilla Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting ahead for a party?
Absolutely! The cake stays wonderfully fresh when baked and frosted a day ahead. Just keep it covered and refrigerated, and the frosting will set to the perfect, sliceable consistency for serving.
Can I use low-fat ingredients for the frosting?
If you’re looking to lighten things up, you can use reduced-fat cream cheese, but full-fat will always give the richest, creamiest result. Avoid fat-free versions, as they can make the frosting runny and less flavorful.
How do I prevent my cake from becoming dry?
Be sure not to overbake; check the cake at the beginning of the suggested baking window. Measure your ingredients carefully, keep eggs and milk at room temperature, and avoid overmixing once the flour goes in for the absolute best texture.
Can the Vanilla Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting be made gluten-free?
Yes, simply swap in your favorite 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend for the all-purpose flour. Make sure your baking powder is gluten-free as well. The results are just as delicious, though the texture may be slightly different.
Is it possible to color the frosting for themed occasions?
Go for it! A few drops of gel food coloring stirred into the cream cheese frosting makes for gorgeous pastels or vivid hues. Divide the frosting and create a rainbow effect, perfect for holidays, birthdays, or special events.
Final Thoughts
If you’re craving a classic treat that never fails to please, you simply can’t go wrong with Vanilla Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. It’s a true home-baked delight, ready to brighten any table and bring big smiles to every lucky taster. Give it a try, and you’ll see exactly why this cake holds a special place in so many hearts (and kitchens)!
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Vanilla Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in the deliciousness of this Vanilla Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. Soft and moist vanilla cake topped with a rich and creamy frosting, a perfect dessert for any occasion.
Ingredients
Cake:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole milk, room temperature
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven and prepare the pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease/flour a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- Prepare the cake batter: Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Cream butter and sugar, add eggs one at a time, mix in vanilla. Alternate adding flour mixture and milk, then pour batter into pan.
- Bake the cake: Bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool cake in the pan on a wire rack.
- Make the frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth, add powdered sugar gradually, mix in vanilla and salt.
- Frost the cake: Spread frosting evenly over the cooled cake.
- Serve: Slice and enjoy!
Notes
- Decorate with sprinkles for a fun touch!
- Store any leftover cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 45g
- Sodium: 230mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 72g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
